As Sarah McLachlan, Tom Cochrane and members of Blue Rodeo were ushered into the Canadian Songwriters Hall of Fame on Saturday, each took a moment to recognize that writing great music usually comes with incredible struggle. “Writing is often a lonely, isolating business,” McLachlan told the audience at Toronto's Massey Hall in her speech. “But for me, it’s also extremely cathartic.
” Her feelings were shared by Cochrane who acknowledged that songwriting steals precious years away from the people around its creators. He thanked his daughters for their patience with him. But the "Life is a Highway" writer suggested the creation process often leads to miracles.
“Songs have a beginning and an end – like lives,” he said. “And like the people we love, we don’t forget them.” All of the inductees' famous tunes punctuated an evening show that saw fans dancing from their seats as Sam Roberts, Metric and Lights joined others in tributes that spanned the emotions.
Husband-and-wife duo Whitehorse delivered a sombre acoustic-electric take on McLachlan's "Sweet Surrender" while a barefoot Brett Emmons of the Glorious Sons threw his voice into a wailing version of Cochrane's "Big League." Nelly Furtado shared how McLachlan inspired her early in her career as they wound through one of the Lilith Fair tours. She also praised McLachlan's tireless efforts in raising funds for various charities.
The two finished by performing a harmonious duet of Angel with Furtado standing .
